Steaming tube



Aug. 16, 1932. A. J. ALLEN.

STEAMING TUBE Filed July s, 1929 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 rerun-r OFFICE Anrnnns. ALLEN, or LAKEWOOD. onro STREAMING TUFIBE Application filed July 5; 192.9. Serial No. 375,889.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus. for waving hair and particularly to steaming tubes therefor.

@ne of the ob'ects of my invention is to provide a steaming tube and a method ofusing the same which will be heat insulated from the scalp in an improved manner.

Another object islto providea. steaming tube in wh ch the temperature thereof adja- 13 cent" to the scalp may be kept low by'an improved ventilated construction.

Another object is to provide a steaming tube having improved means for closing and sealing the end thereof adjacent the scalp.

Another object is to provide a steaming tube having improved means for clamping he lock. of hair the scalp-end of the tube.

Another object is to provide a steaming tube provided with improved means, for securing the heater thereon.

Another object is to. provide a steaming tube adaptedfor use with a simplified and; cheap torniof wrapping for the hair in the. tube.

Another object is to provide an improved wrap er for the hair in the steaming tube.

Another object is to provide a'steaming tube of durable material which may be. used repeatedly all the parts of which are accessable for cleaning and maintaining in. a sanitary condition.

Other objects. will be apparent to. those skilled in this art. I

My invention is fully disclosed in the fol" hiwing description taken in connection: with. the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing Fig. ity is a view partly in cross-sectionof my improved steaming tube, as it appears in.

with electric heater is a view at the steaming tube emmy invention: with movable parts osition ready for use lg. is a view similar to Fig. 2 with parts thereof in difiierenjt positions Fig. 4 is anend view taken approximatelyfrom the plane lotFig. 3, and drawn to a" larger scale;

I longitudinally in the outer tube 1', for a pur Fig. 5 is an end elevational view taken approximately from the plane-5 of 2';

Fig. 6 is a view similarto- Fig. 5, but with parts thereof indillerent positions and taken. approximately 'from' the plane 6' of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view takenfrom the plane 7' of Fig. 8 is a sectional. view taken from the plane 8,. ofFig; 2;

Fig. 9 is a view taken from the plane 90f Fig. 2';

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9-, but with parts thereof in difierent positions andta'ken from the plane 10 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 11,.12 and 13: are three views of. a wrapper which I may employ and showing thewr'apper in difi erent positions.

My improved steaming tube proper comprises an outer cylindrical tube of circular cross-section and. an inner. tube 9; co-axial therewith and fitting the outer tube so as to be rotatable therein on. a common axis therewith. The inner tube may also be moved.

pose to be described.

The outer tube 1 has a wide longitudinal slot 3 in its. periphery and the inner tube 2 has a corresponding slot 4 registerable therewith. See Figs. 7' to 9 inclusive. When the inner tube 2 is rotated 1.80 the body portion of each tube will close the slot. of the other making a transversely continuous enclosing steaming tube.

lhe scalp end ot the outer tube 1 isclosed, as shown in Figs. 1, 9 and 10 by an end wall 5 and the inner tube is similarly closed by an end wall 6, the two walls 5 and 6 having generally V-shaped notches 10' and 11 respectively therein opening outwardly into the wide slots- 3 and 4. The notch 10 in the end wall5, see Figs. 9 and 10, has a portion 7 at the center of the head of circular curvature and thence the edge of the notch 10 proceeds outwardly as at 8, tangentially to the portion 7, at one side thereof, and at the other sidethereof, the edge 9. extends from the portion 7 according; to aconcave curve, which. may be of circular or other profile for a camming; purposeto be described. The notchlll is of similar profile tothe notch 10, but reverse 1 as three, legs 17, as shown in Fig. 1.

with respect thereto as shown in Fig. 9, i. e. when the two notches are registered as in Fig. 9, the concave edge 12 of the notch 11 is opposite to the concave edge 9 of the notch 10.

When the inner tube is rotated within the outer tube in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 10, the concave camming edge 12 of the inner tube cooperates with the concave camming edge 9 of the outer tube to embrace therebetween a lock of hair to be waved, in a manner to be more fully described later; and the two concave edges enclose upon the hair and the camming edges throw the lock toward the center of the two heads 5 and 6 and finally compact and grip it in the circular aperture 13, Fig. 10, formed by the circular portions 7 of the notches 10 and'll in the overlapping heads 5 and 6.

In practice, as will be described, and as shown in Fig. 1, a wrapping material is first wrapped around the hair so that the edges 7 of the heads in practice preferably clamp or grip the wrappingwith the hair inside thereof. From this description, it will be seen that the two heads 5 and 6 and their V-shaped notches cooperate to provide an opening and closing aperture 13 of the iris type.

' Also, at the scalp end of the tube, I provide a shield, preferably formed of material having relatively low specific heat capacity, such as fibre, bakelite or the like. The shield comprises two disk-shaped elements 14 and 15 pivoted together by an eyelet, as at 16. The disk 14 has on its inner face a plurality, such Rivets or pins 18 are preferably embedded centrally in the legs and inwardly project through apertures in the head 5 and are riveted over therein as at 19. By this construction the disk 14 is secured to the end of the outer tube, but is spaced therefrom, providing an air space 20 by which the end of the tubes are heat insulated from the shield. The shield is thus kept at a low temperature and burning of the scalp is prevented. The disk elements 14 and 15 are each provided with generally V-shaped notches 21 and 22, and when the disk 15 is rocked around the pivot 16 from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to the posit-ions shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the notches 21 and 22 enclose, iris fashion, a generally circular aperture 23. As will be more fully clescribed in connection with Fig. 1, the aperture embraces with a clamping action the wrapper and the hair within the same.

In the operation of my improved steaming tube, thus far described, a lock of hair 24 to be waved is first wrapped under tension or stretch upon a rod 25, which may be of the usual pattern, being secured thereto by a slots and end wall notches, above described, with the end 28 of the wrapper projecting through the notches 10 and 11 and through the notch 21 of the shield, the position thereof being generally as shown in Fig. 1.

The shield is then closed up by locking the disk 15, as described, causing it to close upon and grip and seal the end of the Wrapper 28 on the hair 24, as in Fig. 1. The inner tube 2 is then rotated by means to be described within the outer tube 1, closing up the tube longitudinally and causing the notches 10 and 11 to enclose and grip the hair 24 and wrapper 28, as in Fig. 1, and thus also sealing the end of the tube.

To support the rod and its hair andwrapper axially in the tube, the outer end of the rod 30, Fig. 1, is supported in a clip 32 provided for the purpose and shown best in Fig. 7. The clip 32 may be made of fiat resilient material and generally of W-shape, the free ends being secured to the inner wall of the inner tube 2. At the axis of the tube the clip has a partially closed circular grip portion 33 to receive the end of the rod. The rod may be lodged therein by pressing the end thereinto.

The heater 35, which may be of any known or suitable type, is applied to the tube by slipping telescopingly over the free end of the tube into the position shown in Fig. 1. To hold the heater on the tube, the outer tube 1 is provided with a spring clip, or clips 36, which in the preferred form shown are made of thin flat resilient material and riveted as at 37 to the wall of the outer tube 1. The clips 36 have outwardly convex portions and engage the inner bore 38 of the heater as shown for one of the clips 36 in Fig. 1. The frictional engagement of the spring clip with the heater thus retains the heater on the tube against longitudinal displacement. It will be understood that one clip 36 may in some cases be sufficient, but two or three, if pre ferred, may be employed.

In order that the wrapping 28 may be securely gripped in the shield and in the heads 5 and 6, as above described, it is desirable that the inner end thereof indicated at 39,

Fig. 1, be substantially at right angles to the axis of the tube. To this end, I employ, preferably, a wrapper, illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. The material of the wrapper may be of any suitable material, but I prefer to use flannel. The wrapper is formed in a narrow strip, for example one and a half inches wide by five inches long, one end of which is cut 01f as at 42, Fig. 11, at an angle of about In the opposite end a wire 44 of suitable material such as fuse wire is threaded into one edge of the wrapper for a purpose to be described. In wrapping the wrapper around the hair on the rod, as hereinbefore referred to, the wrapping operation proceeds as illustrated in Fig. 12, the axis 41 of the convolu- .inner tube 2 and made preferably tions being approximately at. a right angleto When, thewrappmg operationis substantially complete the edge 42 as shown in. Fig. 12.

as shown in Fig-.13., the last turn or two of the free end 43 of the wrapper will wrap or windthe wire 44 on the underlying eonvohu tions and bind the end. of the" wrapping to prevent the wrapping from unwinding. With a wrapper of this kind, wound in the manner described, the. end- 39 of the wrapper will be in substantially one plane and at a right angle to. the axis of the wrapper, for the purpose referred to above.

The construction by which the end of the tube oppositethescalpis sealedand by which the inner tube 2 is rotated within the outer tube will now be described. The said end of the inner tube 2 is provided with a circular disk or head 45 sealed to the wall of the of material thicker than the adjacent walls of the tube to provide a suitable base for asupporting handle and clutch device for the inner tube, to be described. With this contube is turned on struction, when the inner as a: whole, is

itsaxis, the end of the tube, sealed.

Mounted uponand projecting axially outwardly from the head 45- is a flat handle 46 adapted to be grasped between the thumb and finger. By giving it a twisting motionthe inner tube may be rotated. In some cases, it may be possible to bring the V-shaped notches 10 and 11 in the end walls 5 and 6 at the opposite ends of the tube, into exact opposition and therefore the compression of these notches upon the lock of hair and its covering may react to rotate the inner tube backwards or in the clockwise position, Fig. 10. To prevent this, a clutch device is provided. The clutch device may be of any suit able form, but in the preferred form shown,

in the drawing, it consists of a clutch element 47 composed of a piece of flat resilient material, extending radially through an aperture in a lug 48 secured to the head 45 and extending outwardly axially therefrom. The outer end of the clutch element 47 abuts upon the inner wall of the outer tube 1, as shown at 49in Figs. 2 and 4 and at an angle therewith,

the angle being in such direction that when the lug 48 is moved by rotation of the inner tube in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, the end of the clutch element 47 will trail along upon the inner surface of the tube 1.

As will be apparent, if the inner tube tends, as above described, to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, the end of the clutch element will frictionally engage or bite into the wall of the outer tube at 49 and prevent such rotation. The clutch element 47 is preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 4 and to support its other end and to adapt it to be slightly withdrawn hr ugh he aperture in the lug-48 to free; the clutch, in order that the tube may be rotated in the reverse direction, the said: end of the clutch element 47 is pivotally connected as atv 149 to the free end of a lever 50' pivoted at 5i to a post 52 on the handle 46. The lever O extends beyond the pivot 51 and is suitably formed for a handle 53 adjacent the handle 46 and spring pressed away from the handle 46 by a fiat spring 54 rivetedto the handle at 55 and pressing against the handle 46. Thus, the spring 54 tends to hold; the

lever 50 in a counter-clockwise position, as

viewed in Fig. 3 and this communicates outward radial movement to the clutch element 47. When it is desired to release the clutch, the tube handle 46 and the lever handle 53 may be pinched together between the thumb and finger, thus rocking the lever and withdrawing the clutch element 47 out of en' gagement with the wall of the tube 1. While the handles 53 and 46 are thus pinched together, a twisting movement may be given to them which will be communicated to the inner tube 2 and rotate it on its axis, as above described. I

- To prevent the inner tube fromv accidentally being removed from the outer tube, in a Iongitudinal direction, any suitable means may be employed. In theconstruction shown, a small screw or screws, one of which is shown. at 56, may be screwed through the outer tube 1, adjacent to the outer-surface; or face f the end wall 45 of the inner tube. Longitudi-nalmovement of the inner tube will thus be stopped on the screw 56. On the other hand, the screw 56 may easil be removedwhen it is desired to withdraw the inner tube 2 from the outer tube 1 for cleaning or disinfecting purposes.

I find that the outer and inner tubes: 1 and 2; and the heads and other parts thereof may advantageously be formedfrom sheet, metal such as aluminum, but it will be understood that other material such as especially 11 36- pared fibre, paper composition, asbestos composit-ion, bakelite, castings, etc, be em.- ployed.

I have shown and'described my invention as used with a pad 27 wrapped around the hair, but my invention may be used in mail-ycases with equai efhciency' without the pad. In this case, the compression ofthe hair by direct contact with the notches in the end walls of the tube may be relied upon to seal the tube. In such cases also, when moisture solution, as

dicated in the drawing at trated and described,

axial therewith and each end wall inner tube, an

moistened with a solution of the kind well known in the hair waving art.

When it is not desired to entirely wrap the hair with" the pad, the sealing advantages of my improved pad may be had by employing a relatively short pad of the length inclicated by the broken line of Fig. 11. Such a pad may be employed with or without the may be desired.

In some cases, to properly vent my improved steaming tube, I find it desirable to provide a vent hole in the inner tube and preferably in the outer head thereof, as in- Having thus described my invention, in a preferred embodiment I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illusfrom the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube generally co-axial therewith and relatively rotatably mounted therein, a longitudinal slot in each tube, whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated to one position, the two slots register to provide an opening into the inner tube and when relatively rotated to another position the wall of the outer tube may close and seal the opening into the inner tube.

2. In a device of the class described, an outer tube and an inner tube generally corelatively rotatable therein, a transverse end wall for each tube, a radial outwardly open notch in each end wall communicating with the respective slots, whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated to one position, the groove and the slots register providing an opening into the inner tube and whereby when relatively rotated to another position, the tubular wall and end wall of the outer tube may close the slot and notch in the end wall of the inner tube.

3. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube generally co-axial therewith and relatively rotatable therein, a transverse end wall on each tube, a notch in diverging outwardly radially and communicating with the respective slots, the said notches extending inwardly of the heads beyond the centers thereof, whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated to one position, the slot thereof registers with the slot of the other tube and the notches of the two heads register with each other to provide an opening into the inner tube and whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated to another position, the wall and head of the outer tube close the slot and groove of the inner tube except for registration of the said over center portions of the notches.

4:. In a device of the class described, an

outer tube, the inner tube genbut without departing erally co-axial therewith and relatively rotatable therein, transverse heads in the tubes adjacent to each other, an outwardly open notch in each head, extending into each head beyond the center thereof, the said notches each having a concave cam shaped edge, whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated in the outer tube, the said cam shaped edges may approach each other and embrace therebetween a lock of hair and draw the same toward the center of the heads and compress the same in the aperture formed by the registration of the said over center portions of the notches.

5. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube rotatable in and generally c0-aXial therewith, the tubes being provided with longitudinal registering slots, and means for rotating the inner tube to close the slots, said means comprising a head on the end of the inner tube and a handle on the head.

6. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube generally co-aXial therewith and rotatable therein, means for preventing the inner tube from rotating in one direction, said means comprising a clutch device normally engaging the inner wall of the outer tube.

7. In a device of the class described, an outer tube and an inner tube, provided with registering slots, means for rotating the inner tube in the outer tube in one direction only to close the slots, said means comprising a handle connected to the inner tube, a clutch device connected to the inner tube and engaging the inner wall of the outer tube and a handle adjacent the said turning handle for releasing the clutch.

8. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube, provided with logitudinal registering slots, means for rotating the inner tube to close the said slots, means associated with the outer tube engaging the inner tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the inner tube, said means being removable to permit the inner tube to be removed from the outer tube longitudinally.

9. In a device of the class described, a tube structure adapted to enclose a lock of hair to be heated, the tube being adapted to be telescopically assembled with a heater and means on the tube for frictionally engaging the heater to prevent displacement thereof comprising a resilient bowed element having a portion yieldingly engaging the heater.

10. In a device of the class described, a tube structure adapted to enclose a lock of hair to be heated, the tube being adapted to be telescopically assembled with a heater and means on the tube for frictionally engaging the heater to prevent displacement thereof, said means comprising a yieldable resilient element secured to the outer surface of the said tube structure and projecting radially there from and adapted to engage the inner bore of the heater.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a wrapper for winding upon and enclosinga lock of hair, a pair of elements mounted for relative rotation about a common axis, and formed so as to embrace therebetween the wrapper and lock of hair within the wrapper, and said elements upon rotation being adapted to constrictingly encircle the wrapper and lock, the wrapper being formed so that upon helically winding it upon the lock beginning at a point adjacent the scalp, the edges of the wound convolutions of the wrapper adjacent the scalp may be disposed generally in a plane at right angles to the helix axis, whereby the wrapper may provide a plurality of layers adjacent the scalp suitable to be constrictingly clamped by said elements at a point adjacent the scalp, said wrapper being formed from a strip of suitable wrapping material, one end of which strip is cut off at an angle to an edge thereof.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a wrapper for winding upon and enclosing a lock of hair, a pair of elements mounted for relative rotation about a common axis, and formed so as to embrace therebetween the wrapper and lock of hair within the wrapper, and said elements upon rotation being adapted to constrictingly encircle the wrapper and lock, the wrapper being formed so that upon helically winding it upon the lock beginning at a point adjacent the scalp, the edges of the wound convolutions of the wrapper adjacent the scalp may be disposed generally in a plane at right angles to the helixaxis, whereby the wrapper may provide a plurality of layers adjacent the scalp suitable to be constrictingly clamped by, said elements at a point adjacent the scalp, said wrapper being formed from a strip of suitable wrapping material having substantially parallel side edges one end of which strip is out OK at an angle of substantially 45 to the edges of the strip and the strip being provided with a soft metal wire stitched in one edge of the strip adjacent the other end thereof.

13. In a device of the class described, an outer tube and an inner tube generally coaxial therewith and relatively rotatably mounted therein, a longitudinal slot in each tube whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated to one position, the two slots register to provide an opening into the inner tube and when relatively rotated to another position the wall of the outer tube may close and seal the opening into the inner tube, a support secured to the inner tube and adapted to support the end of a rod to dispose it axially in the tube, the rod being adapted to have wound thereon a lock of hair.

14. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube rotatable in and generally coaxial therewith, the tubes being provided with longitudinal registering slots and means for rotating the inner tube to close the slots, said means comprising a handle means on the inner tube whereby when the outer tube is supported the inner tube may be rotated.

15. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube rotatable in and generally coaxial therewith, the tubes being provided with longitudinal registering slots, and means for rotating the inner tube to close the slots, said means comprising a handle means connected'to the inner tube.

16. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube generally coaxial therewith and freely rotatable therein, locking means for normally preventing the inner tube from rotating relatively to the outer tube, handle operable means for concurrently rotating said inner tube and controlling said locking means.

17. In a device of the class described, an outer tube, an inner tube, provided with longitudinal registering slots, means for relatively rotating the inner tube to close the said slots, means associated with the outer tube and with the inner tube to prevent normally longitudinal movement of the tubes relatively, said means being operable to permit the inner tube to be removed from the outer tube longitudinally;

18. In a device of the class described, a tube structure adapted to enclose a lock of hair to be heated, the tube being adapted to be telescopically assembled with aheater provided with an inner bore of larger diameter than the tube, means on the tube for frictionally engaging the heater to prevent displacement thereof, said means comprising a plurality of resilient elements adapted to engage the inner bore of the heater and to dispose thleJ bore in spaced relation radially of the tu e.

19. In a device of the class described, an outer tube and an inner tube generally coaxial therewith and relatively rotatable therein, a transverse end wall for each tube, a radial outwardly open notch in each end wall communicating with the respective slots, whereby when the inner tube is relatively rotated to one position, the groove and the slot register providing an opening into the inner tube and whereby when relatively rotated to another position, the tubular wall and end wall of the outer tube may close the slot and notch in the end wall of the inner tube, a clamp from scalp shield secured to the end of the device adapted to constrictingly clamp a lock of hair disposed in the registered notches, and spaces between the shield and the tube providing ventilating air ducts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 22nd day of June, 1929.

ARTHUR J. ALLEN. 

